"I don't have to tell you there are those who don't want to just stand in our way, they want to turn the clock back, who want to return to the days when gay people couldn't serve the country openly, who reject the progress that we've made," Obama said.

A Saudi militant believed killed in the U.S. drone strike in Yemen constructed the bombs for some of al Qaeda's most notorious attempted attacks, including the underwear-borne explosives intended to a down a U.S. aircraft and a bomb carried by his own brother intended to assassinate a Saudi prince.

The death of Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri would make the Friday drone strikes on a convoy in the central deserts of Yemen one of the most effective single blows in the U.S. campaign to take out al Qaeda's top figures.

Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst and terrorism expert, agreed that AQAP will likely remain focused on U.S. targets. He noted that the group’s commander, Nasir al-Wuhayshi, was previously a bodyguard for Osama bin Laden and embraced the former al-Qaeda chief’s focus on the United States and the West. “He was sitting with bin Laden on Sept. 11 when the World Trade Center came down,” Riedel said. “He’s as committed to attacking the United States as anyone else was.”

“When the Obama administration and the U.S. media started focusing on him, that is when Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula pushed him to the fore,” Mr. Johnsen said, referring to the group’s Yemeni branch. “They were taking advantage of the free publicity, if you will. And any stature he has now in the Arab world is because of that.”

More than 90% of U.S. infrastructure is in private hands, and except for nuclear power plants, no regulations govern how to secure systems against cyber-attacks. Companies aren't required to report attacks unless they compromise consumers' personal data and trigger state disclosure laws.

Many cyber-attacks go unreported, experts say, because companies fear the financial and public relations consequences of disclosure.

The recent accusations against us have been a serious setback to the war effort and our joint strategic interests. It is not as if Pakistanis will stop reclaiming our terrain, inch by inch, from the extremists, even without the United States. We are a tenacious people. We will not allow religion to become the trigger for terrorism or persecution.

But when we don’t strategize together, and when an ally is informed instead of consulted, we both suffer. The sooner we stop shooting verbal arrows at each other and coordinate our resources against the advancing flag of fanaticism, the sooner we can restore stability to the land for which so much of humanity continues to sacrifice.

Chris Christie’s political advisers are working to determine whether they could move fast enough to set up effective political operations in Iowa and New Hampshire in the wake of a relentless courtship aimed at persuading Mr. Christie, the governor of New Jersey, to plunge into the race for the Republican presidential nomination, according to operatives briefed on the preparations.

Whether Perry made headway during his two-day New Hampshire tour remains to be seen. He told one crowd that he is boning up on economic matters by consulting with former presidential candidate Steve Forbes, and he was scheduled to work on debate preparation with policy experts on his drive to the Manchester airport Saturday afternoon.

But just a few months after Mr. Romney took office in 2003, what he delivered seemed anything but friendly to the C.E.O. crowd: a bill to financial firms for what they saw as $110 million in new corporate taxes — and a promise of more to come.

soundoff(11 Responses)

donna

CNN is the best chanel in world to give the first news i'm allways keeped my TV or from my mobile phoon in connect with cnn good job than you

October 2, 2011 05:04 am at 5:04 am |

Roy Jurasin

On AC 360, Rep Ron Paul went on record stating that killing of American terrorists is not justified. I say, he needs to read up on the US death penalty laws in regards to murder. Yes, it is warranted in this case and he was found guilty of murder by his peers just like a trial would be.

October 2, 2011 05:33 am at 5:33 am |

GI Joe

I don't know why CNN continues to give air time to a war criminal and his hate-filled money-grubbing daughter. Trying to sell the latest money-making book? I certainly won't watch it. It's against my patriot beliefs.

October 2, 2011 07:08 am at 7:08 am |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

Why on Earth are Dick and Liz Cheney significant? One does get tired of their fear mongering and how Obama is soft on terror when the president has shown the reverse to be true.

October 2, 2011 07:43 am at 7:43 am |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

How do you know that Obama is criticizing republicans when he says, " . . . there are those who stand in our way?" Maybe he is just criticizing 'Fox and Friends,' Bill OReilly, Sean Hannity, and Rush Limbaugh." Although the entire republican/bagger party is nothing more than a bunch of out of touch obstructionists, so I can see the relationship.

October 2, 2011 07:47 am at 7:47 am |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

As for Mittens on his raising taxes on corporations in 2003, it proves he is just one disaster after another. He is like the flavor of the day, always changing. I think we will soon see Rudy Guilliani show up in his best red dress, and announce his run for president. He will tell us he know how to capture bin Laden, and will deal harshly with Awlaki.

October 2, 2011 07:53 am at 7:53 am |

Wadda Wingnut

I have been studying the signs of Fronto-Temporal Dementia. The following have me concerned about Gov. Chris Christie: Personality changes, behavior changes, compulsive eating, oral fixations, lack of insight, no empathy.

October 2, 2011 07:58 am at 7:58 am |

vic , nashville ,tn

Media is one of the reason DC couldn’t do anything CNN do you think can we listen any useful ideas from Dick and Liz Cheney, I don’t think so

October 2, 2011 08:53 am at 8:53 am |

GI Joe

Did Alabama dig up G. Wallace? That is, beyond a doubt, a state full of bigotted people. (They do all go to church, tho).

WWJD?

October 2, 2011 09:18 am at 9:18 am |

Ladyhawk253

I'm so disappointed with CNN and Candy Crowley, putting Cheney on to sell his propaganda on CNN. He should go back to FOX NEWS with that jealous tripe. He can't stand that Obama has caught Bin Laden and Awalaki. He continues to complain about Obama not calling it a "war on terror" he's so immature to continually bring that up every time he rears his anti-American garbage about our beloved President. Candy Crowley you're showing your true colors, having this man on your show. Shame on you!

October 2, 2011 09:21 am at 9:21 am |

Joe

I am annoyed at the continued mischaracterization of the real issue on immigration as discussed between Candy Crowley and Haley Barbour this morning. Some people are upset about the children who are themselves illegal aliens. The children of the illegal workers may or may not be illegals themselves. Many illegal workers have been here long enough or often enough to have produced U.S. citizen children. Many people are simply so angry about the illegal parents that they want to attack their kids regardless of the individual child's actual status. The children are protected by a U.S. Supreme Court decision from the 1980s. K-12 are legally available, anything beyond that and illegals only get tuition breaks at the decision of the individual State, that is NOT a federal question. A Governor's stance on that may portend their stance if elected President.